Selective signaling system and apparatus



April 25, 1950 w. J. ZENNER SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1945 5 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR R E m E. H 2 N R LWAm T Rv E A T L A w Y. B

April 5, 950 I J. Z ENNER 2,505,728

SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1945 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2 24 23 FIG. 4 INVENTOR WALTER J. ZENNER ATTORNEY April 25, 1950 w. J. ZENNER 2,505,728

' J SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I68 HO FIG. 7 mvsmoa WALTER J. ZENNER 55M 4PM ATTORNEY April 1950 w. J. ZENNER 2,505,728

SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1945 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY April 25, 1950 w. J. ZENNER SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS 5 She'ets-Sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1945 mmm mmm

INVEN TOR WALTER J. ZENNER BY 52, fix- M ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1950 SELECTIVE SIGNALING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Walter J. Zenner, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 14, 1945, Serial No. 599,322

6 Claims. 1

The present invention pertains to printing telegraph systems and more particularly to transmission control systems.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide in a sequential selective control system for gathering previously prepared information means for automatically inserting predetermined missing code groups.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transmission control system wherein a centrally located station not only controls the order in which a series of stations connected thereto are caused to transmit previously prepared messages to said centrally located station but also automatically inserts predetermined missing code groups.

Specifically, the present invention provides automatic selective transmission control for use in connection with preliminary collection of weather information over a telegraph communication system. Control of this system is provided by primary sequential control equipment located at one primary switching center or master control station on the loop circuit. The system according to the present invention utilizes selector equipment at each way station, which is always connected to the line and surveys all traflic passing over the line.

A sequence collection transmission on this system starts with the transmission from the primary or central station of a predetermined sequence of characters which includes a two 'or more letter station identification of the first way station from which transmission is desired. At this point transmission from the primary or ,central station equipment ceases and the secondary or way station equipment, recognizing the identification letters of its station, starts transmission of the message (for example, weather information) waiting in the form of previously prepared perforated tape. At the conclusion of this message, end-of-message' signals in the message tape are transmitted to shut down transmission from the way station and automatically activate the primary or central station equipment to transmit the station identification letters of the next desired way station to be called in. The sequence of transmission of station ident fication letters at the primary station i contained in a continuous loop of perforated tape. The loop of tape need be changed only when a rearrangement of the order in which station transmission occurs is desired.

In the system according to the present invention it is contemplated that weather information 2 shall be collected hourly, at which times transmission of such information, which has been previously prepared on perforated tapes, from each station will occur automatically under the control of the master control station in predetermined order in response to the operation of a switch at the master control station. Pursuant to the operation of said switch, the entire sequence collection will take place automatically. As a preliminary to transmission, the primary or master control station attendant opens the line for a predetermined interval to stop any transmitter distributor which may be operating on the circuit. Following this, a sequence collection switch is operated and a so-called sequence collection heading is transmitted from the control tape in the primary (or central station) transmitter distributor. This heading comprises a group of signal codes, which precede each hourly weather sequence collection, which information is included in the afore-mentioned continuous loop of tape; for example, Letters code, Station identification (call letters of the central or master control station), carriage return code, ten line feed signals, S and C character codes (signifying Sequence collection), space signal, Circuit of origin number, Space, Date-Time group codes, Letters, Carriage return, and Line feed. The foregoing codes control the page printer in the following manner: The Letters code places the printer in condition to printlower case characters. The station identification letters are then printed on the page and the carriage return signal returns the carriage to the beginning of line position. The ten line feed signals provide a space between the' station heading and the first line of printing. The first characters are S and C meanstation transmitter distributor stops. The equipment at the selected way station responds to these codes and starts transmission of the data contained in the perforated tape at the way station (for example, the Weather information).

At the end of the data (or weather information) transmission an unlock code is transmitted by the way station. This code stops the transmitter distributor at the outlying or way station and is recognized by the primary or master control unit for the purpose of starting the transmission of the actuating codes for the next way station to be called in. In the event of the failure of the called station to transmit the unlock code at the end of transmission of weather information therefrom, or if the selected way station does not respond at the end of a given period of time, an auxiliary distributor at the primary or master control station will transmit a predetermined code signal followed by the unlock code. In this event, the unlock code will activate the primary or master control station equipment in the usual manner to start transmission of the actuating codes for the next way station transmission. This cycle will be repeated until the last selected station has reported, whereupon an appropriate signal, which is contained in the loop of tape, is transmitted from the primary or central station, the effect of which is to shut down the apparatus at the central station.

A better understanding of the invention may be had from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a front view of the primary sequential control unit located at the central or master control station;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the union shown in Fi Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the control apparatus located at each of the way stations of a loop circuit;

Fig. 6 is a top view of apparatus shown in Fig- Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits at the central or master control station and way station;

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the loop circuit embodying the arrangement according to the present invention, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the relationship between -the contact controlling ratchet assembly and the cutout levers.

Having reference to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the primary unit comprises a frame H which houses and supports the various mechanisms comprising the unit. For example, a motor I2 is suitably supported in the frame II, and has a pinion l3 secured to the armature shaft 14. Pinion I3 meshes with a gear l5 carried on an operating shaft l3 journaled in the side portions of frame I I. Shaft It carries thereon a selector cam member l1, operating cams l8 and I9, eccentric 2| and friction clutches 22 and 23. Friction clutch 23 because of pressure exerted by compression spring 24 tends to rotate the selector cam member I! but this rotation is prevented by a stop arm 25 which cooperates with a stop disc 26 of the friction clutch 23. Stop arm 25 is carried on the selector magnet armature 21 and operates to release the disc 26 for rotation when the selector magnet armature 21 is released in response to a start impulse, as is well known in the art. The operating cam sleeve 20, carrying cams I8 wise (as viewed in Fig. 1) in response to a and I9, and eccentric 2|, is released for rotation by a cam projection (not shown) on cam sleeve l1 acting through a trip-off bail identified by the numeric 28, in the manner similar to that shown in Fig. 5 of U. S. Patent No. 1,989,710 issued February 5, 1935, to A. H. Reiber et al. When the bail 28 is operated, it unlatches a stop disc 29, which is a part of friction clutch 22, for a single cycle of rotation.

A selector magnet 3| is mounted on a bracket 32 secured to the main frame H and operates the selector armature lever 21 which is pivotally arcticulated to bracket 32 and is normally biased clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 1) by a spring 33. With normal marking current on the signal line the armature 21 assumes the attracted position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to thereby hold the selector cam sleeve l1 and the operating cam sleeve Ill against rotation. The cam sleeve I1 is provided with a series of cam notches 34, helically arranged so that upon rotation of cam sleeve II a corresponding series of levers 35, pivoted at 36, are selectively actuated sequentially. Levers 35 are normally biased against cam sleeve H by individual springs 31. With the armature member 21 in' the position shown in Fig. 1, the levers 35 are free to respond to the pull of their individual springs 21 when the projections 38 thereon encounter their respective notches 34. However, if the armature member 2! assumes its released or spacing position due to the de-energization of magnet 3| and pull of spring 33, the levers 35 are blocked against clockwise movement by the end of armature 21 engaging the upper extremity thereof. of course, it is understood that the member 21 vibrates for every change from marking to spacing position or vice versa.

Associated with each lever 35 is a selector bar 39 which is suitably mounted for sliding motion in comb bars 4| and 42. Bars 39 are normally biased rightwardly against bar 4| by individual springs 43. The right-hand ends of bars 39 normally rest on a pivoted bail member 20, so that immediately following the initiation of rotation of selector cam sleeve I! the cam 30 releases the bail 20 which then responds to the pull of its spring 40 so that thereafter the right ends of bars 39 rest upon their associated levers 35. Then, when lever 35 is rotated clockwise in response to a marking signal, the end of the associated bar 39 will fall in front of lever 35. When the projection 38 is cammed out of notch 34 as the cam sleeve II rotates, the lever 35 will be actuated in a counterclockwise direction to thereby urge the bar 39 associated therewith in a leftward direction, as viewed in Fig. 1.

Cooperatively related to each bar 39 is a bell crank lever 44 pivotally mounted on pivot shaft 45. Each lever 44 is biased counterclockwise by a spring 43 to maintain the lower extremity of its depending arm against the left end of bar 39. The horizontal arms of levers 44 are guided at their extremities by a comb bar 41 and are each provided with a depending projection 48 which cooperates in blocking or latching relation with the ends of a corresponding series of code bars 49, as more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Each of the code bars 49 are normally biased leftwardly, as viewed in Fig. 4, by an individual spring 5!. Thus, each code bar 49 tends to bear against the projection 48 of its associated bell crank lever 44.

When the bell cranks 44 are rotated clockcam -ation of code bars 49, the cam superimposed above said code bars.

pattern.

marking impulse received by the selector magnet 3|, the code bars 49 will become unlatched from projections 48 and will be actuated leftwardly (as viewed in Fig. 4) by springs 5|. A code bar restoring bail 52 is pivoted at 53 (Fig. 4) on a bracket 54 secured to frame Bail 52 is provided with a vertical arm which coacts at its extremity with a notch 55 in the bottom edge of each code bar 49. The horizontal arm of bail 52 bears, at its extremity, underneath the end of a code bar restoring bail operating lever 56 pivoted at 51 (Fig. 3). The opposite end of lever 56 bears against the periphery of the code bar restoring cam l8. A spring 69 acts to bias bail 52 counterclockwise (Fig. 4) to impart clockwise rotation to lever 56 (Fig. 3) to hold the cam follower end thereof against l8. Thus, following the' selective oper- |8 at the proper time acts to rotate lever 56 counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 3) to thereby rotate lever 52 clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 4) to actuate the bail portion 58 thereof rightwardly to carry the code bars 49 correspondingly to effect a latching engagement between the ends of code bars 49 and projections 48 of bell cranks 44.

Code bars 49 are provided along their upper edges with code projections and notches which cooperate with a group of selectable bars 59 Selectable bars 59 are provided with projections 6| which are deflected to one side or the other of the code bars in accordance with a predetermined Selectable bars 59 are pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 62 and are adapted to rest upon a bail member 63 pivoted at 64. Fixed to bail 63 is a cam follower arm 65 which coacts with the periphery of cam l9 and a spring 66 acting to bias the arm 65 against cam |9. Bars 59 are provided with guide projections 61 whichcooperate with slots in the comb bar 41. Bars '59 are further each provided with an extension "68 to which one end of a spring 69 is anchored,

the other end of said spring being secured to an associated operating lever 9| to 96.

The operating levers 9| to 96 are pivotallyarticulated to support 12 through slots 13. Levers -9| to 96 are further guided near their left end- (as viewed in Fig. 3) by the comb member 41.

An individual spring 14 tends to normally pivot its associated levers 9| to 99 in a counterclockwise direction, which movement is restrained by spring 69 which is stronger than spring 14. In

'efl'ecteach bar 59 and its associated levers 9| to 96 move as a unit through the instrumentality of spring 69, except as hereinafter set forth. Bars 9| to 96 are each provided with a latching shoulder 15 which cooperates with a latching lever 16, pivoted at 11 and biased normally in a counterclockwise direction by a spring Levers 9| to 96 are also provided with a shoulder or projection 19 which cooperates with swinger 8| of a make-break contact member 82. These levers are further provided with a moved and is retained in such position by a detent spring 88 (Fig. 4), which cooperates with one or the other of a pair of V-shaped notches 89 formed in the bottom edge of bar 81. Bar 81 is provided with a pair of oppositely inclined surfaces 91 and 98 associated with the shift and unshift bars 92 and 95, respectively. When the unshift bar 95 is selectively operated, the code lug 188 thereon will coact with the inclined surface 98 to cam the bar 81 leftwardly. Conversely, when the shift bar 92 is actuated (after a prior actuation of unshift bar 95) the code lug 99 thereon will coact with inclined surface 91 to actuate the shift bar 81 rightwardly, the detent 88, of course, acting to retain bar 81 in its actuated position.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the bar 81 is provided with a code lug |8| cooperating with bar 93, and a code notch cooperating with bar 96. In the embodiment shown, both bars 93 and 96 are responsive to the carriage return signal when set up in the code bars 49. However, bar 93 is the lower case carriage return bar, and bar 96 is the upper case carriage return bar. That is, bar 93 will be selected when the shift bar 81 has been first actuated to the unshift or leftward position (as viewed in Fig. 4) to remove projection |0| from beneath the code lug I02 of bar 93, and to cause the code lug I03 of bar 96 to be blocked by the projection I94 adjacent to notch I05 or bar 81. On the other hand, the upper case carriage return bar 96 will be selectively operated when the shift control bar 81 has been first moved rightwardly in response to the unshift or Letters code signal, to bring code notch I05 beneath the code lug I83, and the lug or projection ||l| in blocking relation with code lug I92.

In the operation of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the code signal impulses are received by the selector magnet 3| in well known manner, the marking impulses attracting and holding the armature 21 and the spacing impulses releasing said armature. Since the normal stop condition of the signal line is a marking condition (current on the line) the magnet 3| will be energized and the armature 21 will be held attracted to thereby hold arm 25 thereof in blocking engagement with stop disc 26, to thus hold the operating elements on shaft |6 against rotation. Upon receipt of a start signal impulse (which is of spacing nature) the magnet 3| will be de-energized thus releasing its armature 21 to initiate rotation of the operating elements on shaft I6.

During the code signal cycle the armature 21 will act to block clockwise movement of levers 35 in response to spacing signals, and will permit rotation of levers 35 in response to marking signals. If the signal impulse is of marking nature, the lever 35 will move to the right and bar 39 fall off the top of said lever to thereby be operated leftwardly by the lever 35 when the latter is cammed out of notch 34. The leftward movement of bar 39 will act to rotate its bell crank 44 clockwise to unlatch its associated code bar 49. After the five oode bars 49 have been thus released or not released depending upon whether the signal impulse was of a marking or spacing nature, a cam or sleeve |1 acts through clutch trip member 28 to release the sleeve I!) for rotation.

As the sleeve I0 begins its rotation, the cam l9 causes the bail 63 to be released 'to; permit the bars 59 to sense the code bars 49. The bar 59 which finds an alignment of notches will be ac- "trio 2 I.

' ward position.

7 tuated further than the rest of the bars 59 by spring 14 to bring shoulder I9 into the path of the swinger -8I. Also, shoulder I5 becomes engaged by its associated latch lever I6 to hold the selected lever 9I96 in its selected position until its associated contact 82 has been operated. All of the bars 59 are returned by bail 63 to their ,vertical position. The spring 69 of the selected bar 9I96 will be stretched sinc its associated bar cannot be returned until it has become unlatched, as will presently appear. With the selected lever 9I 96 thus latched, the operating bail 84 is actuated, through link 86, by the eccen- As the bail '84 is operated counterclockwise, it will engage the shoulder 83 of the selected 'bar 9I-96 to thereby actuate the selected bar 'le'ftwardly, thus causing shoulder I9 thereof to operate swinger 8| and associated contacts. In

"its leftward movement, the shoulder I5 of the selected bar 9I96 becomes disengaged from the latch I6 to permit the selected bar to respond to the pull of its spring 69 to be returned to its up- Foilowing the operation of bail 63 to return the bars 59 to the normal uppermost position, the cam I9 functions through levers 56 and 52 to return the code bars 49 to their unselected position whereat they are again latched by bell crank levers 44.

In Figs. 5, 6, and '7 are illustrated the control apparatus that is located at each of the way stations in the loop circuit embracing the sequential control system according to the present invention. This apparatus, which is similar in man respects to the primary apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4,

comprises a main frame II which houses and supports the various mechanisms comprising the unit. The frame H0 supports a motor III which has a pinion H2 secured to th armatur shaft H3. The pinion H2 meshes with a gear I I4 carried on an operating shaft H journaled in the side portions of frame IIO. Shaft H5 carries thereon a selector cam member H6, operating cams H1, H8, and H9, eccentric I2I and friction clutches I22 and I23. Friction clutch I 23 because of pressure exerted by compression spring I24 tends to rotate the selector cam member H6 but this rotation is prevented by a stop arm I25 which cooperates with a stop disc I25 of the friction clutch I23. Stop arm I25 is carried on the selector magnet armature I2! and operates to release the disc I26 and clutch I23 for rotation when the selector magnet armature [21 is released in response to a start impulse, as is well known in the art. The operating cam sleeve I09 carrying cams II 1, H8, and H9, and eccentric- I2I, is released for rotation by a cam projection (not shown) on cam sleeve H6 acting through a trip-off bail identified by the numeric I28, in the manner similar to that shown in Fig. 5 of U. S. Patent No. 1,989,710. When the bail I28- is operated it unlatches a stop disc I29, which is a part of friction clutch I22, for a single cycle of rotation.

A selector magnet I3I is mounted on a bracket I32 secured to the main frame H0 and operates the selector armature lever I 21 which is pivotally articulated to bracket I32 and is normally biased clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 5) b a spring I33. With normal marking current on the signal line the armature I2'I assumes the attracted position shown in Fig. 5, to thereby hold the selector cam sleeve H6 and the operating cam sleeve I09 against rotation. The cam sleeve I I6 is provided with a series of cam notches I34, helically ar- I 35 are normally biased against cam Sleeve I I 6 by a corresponding series of levers I35, pivoted at I36, are selectively actuated sequentially. Levers I35 are normally biased against cam sleeve II 6 individual springs I31. With the armature member I2'I in the position shown in Fig. 5, the levers I35 are free to respond to the pull of their individual springs I31 when the projections I38 thereon encounter their respective notches I34. However, if the armature member I2I assumes its released or spacing position due to the deenergization of magnet I3I and pull of spring I33, the levers I35 are blocked against clockwise movement by the end of the armature. Of course, it is understood that the member I2I vibrates for every change from marking to spacing position or ,vice versa.

Associated with each lever I35 is a selector bar I39 which is suitably mounted for sliding motion in comb bars I and I42. Bars I39 are normally biased rightwardly against bar MI by individual springs I43. The right-hand end of bars I39 normally rest on a pivoted bail member I20, so

that immediately following the invitation of rosponse to a marking signal, the end of the associated bar I39 will fall in front of lever I35. When the projection I38 is cammed out of notch I34 as the cam sleeve II6 rotates, the lever I35 will be actuated in a counterclockwise direction to thereby urge the bar I39 associated therewith in a leftward direction, Fig. 5.

cooperatively related to each bar I39 is a bell crank lever I44 pivotally mounted on pivot shaft I45. Each lever I44 is biased counterclockwise by a spring I46 to maintain the lower extremity of its depending arm against the left end of bar I39. The horizontal arms of levers I44 are guided at their extremities by a comb bar I41 and are each provided with a depending projection -I48 which cooperates in blocking or latching relation with the ends of a corresponding series of code bars I49. Each of the code bars I49 are normally biased in the manner shown in Fig. 4 by an individual spring (not shown). code bar I49 tends to bear against the projection 48 of its associated bell crank lever I44.

When the bell cranks I44 are rotated clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 5) in response to a marking impulse received by the selector magnet I3I, the code bars I49 will become unlatched by projection I48 and will be actuated downwardly (as viewed in Fig. 6) by their springs similar to springs 5|. A code bar restoring bail I52 is pivoted at I53 (Fig. 7) on a bracket (not shown) secured to frame IIII. Bail I52 is provided with a vertical arm which coacts at its extremity with a notch (not shown) in the bottom edge of each code bar I49 in a manner similar to the primary unit previously described. The horizontal arm of bail I52 bears, at its extremity, underneath the end of a code bar restoring bail operating lever I56 pivoted at I51 (Figs. 6 and 7) The opposite end of lever I56 bears against the periphery of the code bar restoring cam II 9. A spring (not shown) acts to bias lever I52 to impart clockwise rotation to lever I56 (Fig. 7) to hold the cam follower end thereof against cam I I9. Thus, following the selective operation of code bars I49, the cam H9 at the proper time acts to rotate lever I56 counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 7) to thereby rotate lever I52 to actuate the bail por- Thus each 9 tion thereof to carry the code bars I49 correspondingly to effect a latching engagement between the ends of code bars I49 and projections I48 of bell cranks I44.

Code bars I49 are provided along their upper edges with code projections and notches which cooperate with 'a group of selectable bars I59 superimposed above said code bars. Selectable bars I59 are provided with projections I6I which are deflected to one side or the other of the code bars in accordance with a predetermined pattern. Selectable bars I 59 are pivotally articulated to support I12 and are adapted to rest upon-a bail member I63 pivoted at I64. Fixed to bail- I63 is a cam follower arm I65 which coacts with the periphery of cam II1. a spring I66 acting to bias the arm I65 against cam 1. Bars I59 are provided with guide projections I61 which cooperate with slots in the comb bar-I41. Bars I59 are further each provided with an extension I68 to which one end of a spring I69 is anchored, the other end of said spring being secured to an associated operating lever I9I to I99. The operating levers I 9| to I99 are pivotally articulated to support I12 through slots I13. Levers I9I to I99 are further guided near their left end (as viewed in Fig. '1) by the comb memher I 41. An individual springIfIltendS to pivot its associated lever I9I to I99 normally in a counterclockwise direction. which. movement is restrained by spring I69 which is stronger than spring I14. In effect. bar I 59 and a lever I 9| to I99 move as a unit through the instrumentality of spring I69, except as hereinafter set forth. Bars I9I to I99 are each provided with a latching shoulder I which cooperates with a latching lever I16, pivoted at I11 and biased normally in acounterclockwise direction by a spring. I18.

Levers I9I to I99 are also provided with a shoulder I19 which cooperates with a contact controlling ratchet assembly I8I in a manner which will hereinafter appear. These levers are further provided with a shoulder I83 which cooperates With an operating bail I84 pivoted at I85. A link I86 is connected atone end to bail I84 and at the other end to an eccentric I2I, to impart. in turn, oscillating motion to bail I84. Associated with the set of code bars I49 is an additional bar I81, which is the shift-unshift code bar. Bar I81 has no normal position, but remains in the position to which it was last moved, and is retained insuch position by a detent spring similar to spring 88 shown in Fig. 4. Bar I81 is provided on its bottom edge with'a slot which receives the stem portion I88 of a T-shaped lever I89 pivoted at I90. One arm of T-lever I89 cooperates with a projection I80 on lever I99 and the other arm is similarly related to lever I 93 (Figs. 6 and '1). In the embodiment disclosed, lever I93 is the Letters or unshift lever and lever I99 is the Figures" or shift lever. When the lever I93 is actuated leftwardly (Fig. 6) in a manner presently set forth the lever I89 will be rotated counterclockwise about pivot I90 to impart forward movement (downward in Fig. 6) to the shift-unshift bar I81. On the other hand,

if the lever I99 is actuated leftwardly, the lever I 89 will be rotated clockwise'to impart rearward "movement to the bar I81.

"arms 202, one arm 202 'beingprovided for each "lever I9I to I99. Each arm 202 terminates in a ratchet tooth conformation and a'ninclined cam surface 203. A spring 204 tends to rotate the ratchet assembly I8I in a clockwise direction and to return the assembly I 8I against a stop 205 mounted on the frame H0. The ratchet assembly I8I is also provided with a, ratchet segment 206 which cooperates with a detent pawl 201 pivotally mounted at 208 to frame IIO. Pawl 201 is normally biased in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. '1) by a spring 209 to cause the cam follower portion thereof to ride on the periphery of cam II8. 7

'Also carried on the ratchet assembly I 8| is a contact operating arm 2 (Figs. 5 and 6) which cooperates with the insulated portion 2I2 of a pair of contacts 2I3 suitably mounted on comb plate I41. Cooperating with the insulated portion 2I2 of contacts 2| 3 is a locking member 2 pivoted at 2I5; Member 2I4 is normally biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 2I6 so that when the arm 2| I has been rotated or stepped in! a counterclockwise direction, in the manner presently set forth, until it closes the contacts 2 I3,'the

insulated portion 2 I2 will become latched by the member 2 I4 to hold the contacts 2I3 closed, while the ratchet assembly I8I (and arm 2) is re turned to its position against the stop 205.

In response to a predetermined code signal the bar 2 I1 (similar to bars I59) will be selectively operated. Therefore, as the bar 2 I 1 is thus activated counterclockwise due to the presence of an alignment of notches therefor in the set of code bars I49, a member 2I8 pivoted thereto and depending therefrom will depress the lever 2I4 to release it from latching engagement with the portion 2I2 of contact 2I3.

As shown in Figs. '7 and 10, the ratchet assembly I8I also cooperates, through each of its arms 202, with a corresponding series of cutout levers 2I9 pivoted on a rod 22I, so that when the assembly I8I is returned to its extreme clockwise position against stop 205, each arm 202 will contact the horizontal arm of its associated lever 2I9, to hold the levers 2 I9 in the position shown in Fig. 7 away from the common stop pin 222 and against the pull of individual springs 223.

In the operation of the unit shown in Figs. 5, 6, '1, and 10, the shaft I I5 is constantly rotating, and the sleeves H6 and I20 thereon are, through the yieldingattributes of friction clutches I22 and I23,'held in their stop positions by stop elements I25 and I28, respectively.

Insofar as the selector mechanism of this unit is substantially similar to that of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the operation thereof will be described only briefly. As the code signal impulsesare received by the selector magnet I9I,

the start signal initiates rotation of the selector cam sleeve I I6 which, through the cooperation of levers I35 and armature lever I21, may or may not actuate bars I39 leftwardly to impart counterclockwise rotation to bell crank levers I 44 to unlatch the code bars I49 to establish an alignment of notches corresponding to the received signal, to effect the selective operation of a lever I59.

Upon the selection of a lever I 59, its associated lever I9I to I99 is operated simultaneously therewith by the spring I14 individual thereto and by the projection I61, to cause the selected lever I9I to I99 to become latched up by the coaction of latching pawl I16 with shoulder I15. Now, if the lever I9I has been selected, its shoulder I19 become aligned with the tooth on the first (or upper) arm 202 so that when lever I9I is actuated leftwardly (as viewed in Fig. 7) by the bail I84,

the ratchet assembly I8I is rotated or stepped a unit distance angularly and held thereat by the detent pawl 20! cooperating with ratchet segment 206. As the assembly I8I rotates in this manner "the extremities 224 (Fig. recede from the horizontal arms of cutout levers 2I9 so that as the lever I 9| is returned to its rightward position by its spring I I4 (following the return of bail I84 to its clockwise position) the projection or shoulder I19 of the returned lever I9I will ride up the slope 203 of the arm 202 associated with lever I9I, whereupon shoulder 225 of lever I9I will be lifted clear of the vertical arm of cutofi lever 2 I9 thus permitting lever 2I9 to be rotated by its spring 223 against stop 222, thus causing lever 2I9 to support lever I9I. In this manner, the selected lever I9I will be held inoperative or nonresponsive to further selection until the ratchet assembly I 8| shall have first been returned to its clockwise position against stop 205 at which time the extremities of arms 202 urge the levers 2| 9 counterclockwise away from stop 222 and free of shoulders 225.

To cause the arm 2 II to close the: contact 2I3 the levers I 9I to I99 must be operated in consecutive order to properly step the ratchet assembly I8I counterclockwise. During the stepping operation, while the shoulder H9 is still in engagement with an arm 202, the pawl 201! will be disengaged from ratchet segment 206 momentarily by cam II8, but will become re-engaged before shoulder I19 is again released from arm 202. The purpose for this is to insure a p oper stepp n action and still permit the return of the ratchet assembly I8I to its clockwise position against stop 205 in the event that the levers I9I to I99 do not follow each other in consecutive order. The codes for each of the levers I9I to I99 are so chosen as to agree with a predetermined group of code signals assigned to the particular unit at each way station so that when a sequence of code signals agreeing with a predetermined group is applied to the signal line the ratchet assembly I8I at the station identified by the predetermined group will be rotated so that its contact arm 2I I will close its associated contact 2I3 and become locked by detent lever 2 I4. However, should any code signal included in the predetermined group be missing, the assembly I8I will be stepped until one of the codes in the group disagrees with the .assigned code, whereupon the assembly I8I will be returned to its position against the stop 205.

It will be observed that lever I92 (Fig. 6) is controlled by two of the bars I59, which bars are provided with laterally directed portions 226 and -22! superimposed above and in cooperative engagement with lever I92.

Having reference to Fig. 9, a diagram of a loop circuit comprising a central or master control station 23I and a plurality of way stations 232 connected serially by a signal line 233 is shown. There may be 75 or more way stations in the loop circuit. The central station, in addition to the electrical relay arrangement shown in Fig. 8, is provided with the apparatus disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4, which is identified as 234 in Fig. 9. Also included in the central station circuit are two tape transmitter units 235 and 236 which are of the construction shown in U. S. Patent No.

2,296,845, issued Sep ember 29, 1942, to M. T. Goetz. At the way stations 232 the system comprises the apparatus shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 10, whichis identified as 237 in Fig. 9. There is also included in the way station circuit a tape transmitter 238 similar to units 235 and 235.

, 12 Having reference to Fig. 8, the signal line 233 is indicated as deriving its signal current from battery 239. The line circuitextends from bat tery 239, through the winding of selector magnet 3I of the control unit 234 (Fig. 9) at central station 23I, through the telegraph printer 240, through the transmitting contacts 24I of transmitter 235, through the transmitting contacts 242 of transmitter 236, then through the transmitting contacts 243 of the transmitter238 at the way station 232, through the winding of selector magnet I3I of the control unit 231, and back to battery 239. Since the stop contacts of the sets of transmitting contacts 24I, 242, and 243 are normally closed, the line circuit is closed and its normal condition is therefore marking. Accordingly, the selector'magnets 3| and I3I are normally energized.

Preparatory to sequential message collection-a continuous loop of tape is prepared having perforated therein, in addition to the "Sequence collection heading group of code signals mentioned previously, groups of code signals, each group pertaining to a particular way station,-the said groups arranged in the order in which it is desired to call in the way stations. The loop of tape need be changed only when a rearrangement of the order in which station transmission occurs is desired. Each group of code signals pertaining to a particular way station comprises conditioning codes followed by the station identificationv letters of the way station from which transmission is desired followed by further conditioning codes. For example, in the system according to the present invention, such a group of code signals would comprise the following codesz- Carriage return, Carriage return, Letters or unshift, A, B, C (or other station identification characters), Space and Letters.-

The loop of tape just mentioned is properly inserted in the tape transmitter 235 with the-sequence collection heading group of code signals properly adjusted with respect to the transmitting contacts 24I. The signal line is then opened for a predetermined interval of time by operating the switch 244. The open line or break-" condition is employed to shut down any transmitter-distributor that might be transmitting on the line at the time the sequence collection is due to begin.

Thereafter, to initiate sequential transmission the switch 244 is closed, and then the start key 245 is closed, thus completing a circuit from battery 230, through key 245, over conductor 241, and through the right-hand winding of start relay 246 to ground. Relay 246 upon energizing pulls up its armatures 241, 248, and 249, thereby opening contact 25I and closing contacts 252' and 253. The closing of contact 252 completes a loc"ing circuit for relay 246 which extends from battery 254, through contact 255, over conductor 256, over armature 248, through contact 252, then through the right-hand winding of relay 246 to ground. With the present embodiment, the start key 245 is opened after the relay 246 becomes locked up, because thereafter the'advancement of the loop of tape to select the way stations is accomplished automatically. In the Sequence collection heading the dash or hyphen code signal is substituted for the normal space code signal because in the operation of the present embodiment of the invention the space code signal has a special function, as will hereinafter appear.

Upon the closing of contact 253 a circuit is completed from battery 251, through contact 253, over armature 249, over conductor 256, through tape out switch 259, then through the windings of clutch magnet 26l, to ground. Since the transmitting unit 235 may be of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,296,845, it will be evident that the energization of magnet 26I permits the transmitting cam shaft to rotate to operate the transmitting contacts 241 sequentially in accordance with the code perforations sensed in the tape (not shown). Following the transmission of the Sequence collection heading perforated in the loop of tape, the groups of signals pertaining to the way stations to be selected are then transmitted. As previously mentioned, the groups of code signals for selecting a way station comprises a group of conditioning code signals (C. R., C. R., Letters), the station identification code signals (ABC, or any other set of charac ters), and the lock code signals (Space, Letters). The effect of these code signals on the selector 231 at the way station, as has been set forth hereinbefore, is to rotate the contact arm 2 to eifect the closure of a contact 2l3 to initiate transmission from the selected way station to the primary or central station.

As set forth previously, the space code signal performs a special function. This function resides in stopping the transmission of station selecting signals from transmitter 235 during the time transmission takes place from the way station transmitter 238. When the space code signal is impressed on the signal line 233 the selector magnet 3| is eifectiveto cause the selection of the space selector bar 94 of the selector apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The selection and operation of bar 94 efi'ects the opening momentarily of contact 255, the effect of which is to open the locking circuit for relay 246, which then releases its armatures 241, 248, and 249. Upon releasing the armature 249, the energizing circuit for clutch magnet 261 is broken, to thereby arrest transmission from the transmitter 235 under the control of the afore-mentioned loop of tape. However, due to the overlap in the selector mechanism exemplified by magnet 3|, the Letters" code signal is transmitted to place all printers on the line in an unshift condition, and to allow for line propagation time.

As the arm 2 of control unit 231 at the selected way station 232 is rotated its full distance, it becomes latched up by the latch 2.14 to hold the contact 2l3 closed. The closing of contact 3 establishes an energizing circuitfor the clutch magnet 262 of the tape transmitter 238, which extends from grounded battery 263.'through contact 2|3, over conductor 264, through the winding of clutch magnet 262 to ground. The tape transmitter 238 is also of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,296,845, and the operation of magnet 262 effects the release of the transmitting cam shaft for rotation, to sequentially operate the transmitting contacts 243 in accordance with perforations in the tape, to transmit to the primary station 23I the weather information (or other message matter) contained in the tape.

At the conclusion of the message contained in the way station tape, a group of code signals indicative of message termination is perforated therein, the efiect of which, upon receipt by the primary station 23!, is to initiate transmission again from the loop of tape in transmitter 235 to select the next way station, and alsoto automatically stop transmission at theway station from which message-transmission has just been concluded. The message end group of signals comprises, in the present embodiment of themvention, the following code signals: Figures (or shift), Carriage return (C. R.) and Letters" (unshift). The receipt of these signals by the selector magnet l3! of the control unit 231 at the' way station 232 will have the effect of selecting the upper case carriage return bar 2l1 (Fig. 6) which, when operated, acts through the plunger 2| 8 to disengage latch 2l4 from the contact 2l3 thereby opening the contact 2l3 to break the en-' ergizing circuit for clutch magnet 262, thus pre eluding further transmission at this time from way station 232. i

At the primary station 231 the message-end group of signals will have the effect of selectingv the selector bar 96 in the manner previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4. The bar 96 upon selection is operated to close contact 265 to. complete an energizing circuit for relay 266 from grounded battery 261, through contact 265, over conductor 268, through the winding of re lay 266, through contact 25l, and over armature 241 to ground. Relay 266 when thus operated pulls up its armature 269 to close a contact 21l, thereby completing a locking circuit for relay 266 from grounded battery 212, through contact 2, over armature 269, through the winding of relay 266, through contact 25l and over armature 241 to ground.

The contact 213 is a universal contact and is operated by bar 9| in response to all code signals. Relays 214 and 215 are of the slow-to-release type and are controlled by contact 213. Thus, when contact 213 closes, the relays 214 and 215 become energized over obvious energizing circuits. When transmission from the way station ceases, the contact 213 remains open, and the relay 215 releases after a period of time to allow its armature 216 to close contact 211 to complete a circuit for energizing the left-hand winding of relay 246 from grounded battery 212, through contact 21!, over armature 269, over conductor 218, over armature 216, through contact 211, over conductor 219, through the left-hand winding of relay 246 to ground.

Relay 246 will pull up its armatures 241, 248, and 249 to complete a locking circuit therefor as previously traced from battery 254 and through contact 252 (now closed). Also, contact 25l will be opened to break the previously described lock ing circuit for relay 266. The opening of contact 211 (due to the de-energization of relay 266) will break the energizing circuit for the left-hand winding of relay 246, but this relay will nevertheless remain energized over the previously described locking circuit. Moreover, the contact 253 of locked relay 246 will be closed to complete an energizing circuit (as previously traced) for the clutch magnet 26! to again initiate the operation of tape transmitter 235 to transmit the group of code signals pertaining to the next way station to be selected.

After the next way station 232 has been called in and its contact 213 has been closed, the transmission of the message matter previously prepared thereat will be initiated and will continue until the message-end group of signals has been transmitted, which latter group of signals will cause the contact 265 to be again closed to effect the reoperation of transmitter 235 to select the next way station.

In this manner the automatic and sequential,

station has been called in and heard from, at which time a sixth sensing pin will find a hole in the tape to efiect the opening of the tape-out contact 259 in the manner disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,296,845, wherein pin 89 (Fig. 4 of the patent) is the sixth or tape-out pin.

In the event that the selected or called way station fails to respond to the call of the master control or primary station, or in case the way station just terminating its message transmission fails to send an end-of-message group of signals, provision is made for both of these eventualities by providing in the circuit arrange ment shown in Fig. 8, a slow-to-release relay 2". The universal contact 213 closes in response to signals transmitted by unit 235 as well as unit 238. Thus, so long as signals are being impressed on the signal line 233 from whichever source, bar 9| will be selected and contact 213 will be closed and opened continually and accordingly, relays 214 and 215, being slow-to-release, are continuously energized. In this manner sufficient time is given for the end-of-message group of signals to be received or for the next selected way station to respond. In either event, after a predetermined release time, the armature 282 of relay 214 will be released to close contact 283 to complete an energizing circuit for clutch release magnet 288 of the fixed message transmitter 236, which circuit extends from grounded battery 285, over armature 282,

through contact 283, over conductor 29L then through the winding of magnet 288 to ground.

Magnet 288 operates to release the transmitting cam shaft for rotation to operate the transmitting contacts 262 sequentially in accordance with cam projections of so-called fixed message cam cylinders of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,879,524 granted September 27, 1932, to R. D. Salmon et al., wherein the fixed message is transmitted during a single revolution of the cam shaft. The fixed message transmitted over line 233 by the fixed message transmitter 236 comprises the following; Missing-Figures-Carriage return-Letters. As these signals are impressed on the signal line 233 the selector magnet 3| will, of course, respond and accordingly, the universal selector bar 9| will again be operated constantly, thereby closing contact 213 periodically to efiect the operation of relay 2T4. Relay 214 remains energized and accordingly the contact 283 remains open, thus breaking the circuit for relay 288.

The group of signals comprising the fixed message will have the effect of selecting the bar 96 (which is the upper case carriage return bar) to close the contact 265 to control the operation of relay 266, which as previously set forth, controls the operation of transmitter 235 to eifect the transmission of the station selection code signals.

While the foregoing description has been explained and described with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be restricted in any manner to the language of the detailed specification nor to the illustrations in the accompanying drawings, except as indicated in the hereunto appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraph system, a primary station, a .plurality of secondary stations connected to said primary station, means at said primary station for rendering said secondary stations effective selectively in a predetermined sequential order to transmit messages to said primary station,

mechanical selector means at each of said secondary stations comprising selectable members responsive to groups of signals transmitted from said primary station, whereby said selectable members when operated in predetermined order are effective to read said transmitted signals to condition a secondary station for transmission according to the group of signals identified therewith, means at said primary station responsive to a group of conditioning codes indicative of message termination from said secondary stations to control the calling in of the next secondary station in said predetermined order,ja fixed message transmitter at said primary station, and means at said primary station effective upon the failure of reception of said group of conditioning codes to render said fixed message transmitter operative to automatically insert said group of message termination codes.

2. In a telegraph system, a primary station, a plurality of secondary stations serially connected to said primary station, means at said primary station for rendering said secondary stations effective selectively in a predetermined sequential order to transmit messages to said primary station, means at each of said secondary stations responsive to groups of signals transmitted from said primary station to read said transmitted signals to condition a secondary station for transmission according to the group identified therewith, means at said primary station responsive to a group of conditioning codes indicative of message termination from said secondary stations to control the calling in of the next secondary station in said predetermined order, and means at said primary station efiective upon the failure of reception of said group of conditioning codes to automatically insert said group of message termination codes.

3. In a telegraph system, a primary station, a plurality of secondary stations serially connected to said primary station, means at said primary station for rendering said secondary stations effective selectively in a predetermined sequential order to transmit messages to said primary station, permutation selector means at each of said secondary stations comprising selectable members responsive to groups of permutation code signals transmitted from said primary station, whereby said selectable members when operated in predetermined order are eiTective to condition a secondary station for transmission according to the group of permutation code signals identified therewith, means at said primary station responsive to a group of conditioning codes indicative of message termination from said secondary stations to control the calling in of the next secondary stations in said predetermined order, a fixed message transmitter at said primary station, further means at said primary station operable invariably in response to code signals, and relay means at said primary station effective under the control of said further means upon the failure of reception of said group of conditioning codes to render said fixed messag transmitter operative to automatically insert said group of message termination codes.

4. In a telegraph system, a primary station, a permutation code selector mechanism at said primary station, -a plurality of secondary stations serially connected to said primary station, relay means at said primary station coo-perable with the selector mechanism thereat for rendering said secondary stations effective selectively in a predetermined sequential order to transmit messages to said primary station, means at each of said secondary stations comprising a permutation code selector mechanism having selectable members responsive to groups of permutation code signals transmitted from said primary sta tion, whereby said selectable members when operated in predetermined order are effective to read said transmitted code signals to condition a secondary station for transmission according to the group of signals identified therewith, means in said mst recited permutation code selector mechanism responsive to a group of conditioning codes indicative of message termination from said secondary stations to control the calling in of the next secondary station in said predetermined order, a fixed message transmitter at said primary station, further means in said first recited permutation code selector mechanism responsive invariably to all code signals, and relay means at said primary station effective under the control of said further means upon the failure of reception of said group of conditioning codes to render said fixed message transmitter operative to automatically insert said group of message termination codes.

5. In a telegraph system, a primary station, a plurality of secondary stations serially connected to said primary station, means at said primary station for rendering said secondary stations efiective selectively in a predetermined sequential order to transmit permutation code signals to said primary station, permutation code selector means at each of said secondary stations, said selector means comprising a plurality of selectable bars and a cylinder having a helically arranged series of projections cooperatively related to said selectable bars, means for rendering said selectable bars responsive to said transmitted code signals to actuate said cylinder to condition the secondary station according to the group identified therewith, means at said primary station responsive to a group of conditioning codes indicative of message termination from said secondary stations to control the calling in of the next secondary station in said predetermined order, a fixed message transmitter at said primary station, and means at said primary station effective upon th failure of reception of said group of conditioning codes to render said fixed message transmitter operative to automatically insert said group of message termination codes.

6. In a telegraph system, a primary station, a plurality of secondary stations serially connected to said primary station, means at said primary station for transmitting permutation code signals for rendering said secondary stations effective selectively in a predetermined sequential order to transmit messages to said primary station, a permutation code selector mechanism at each of said secondary stations, said mechanism comprising a plurality of selectable bars, and a cylinder provided with a helically arranged series of projections cooperatively related to said selectable bars, means for selectively operating said bars in response to said transmitted code signals for determining the rotative positionment of said cylinder to condition a secondary station for transmission according to the group of permutation code signals identified therewith, means at said primary station responsive to a group of conditioning codes indicative of message termination from said secondary stations to control the calling in of the next secondary station in said predetermined order, a fixed message transmitter at said primary station, and means at said primary station efiective upon the failure of reception of said grou of conditioning codes to render said fixed message transmitter operative to automatically insert said group of message termination codes.

WALTER J. ZENNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,821,110 Morton Sept. 1, 1931 2,082,725 Simmons June 1, 1937 2,347,831 Kinkead May 2, 1944 2,381,871 Bacon et a1 Aug. 14, 1945 2,444,078 Weaver June 29, 1948 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,505,728 April 25, 1950 WALTER J. ZENNER It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, line 33, for the Word union read unit; column 7, line 75, before the numeral 135 insert ranged so that upon rotation of cam sleeve 116 a corresponding series of levers; same line 75, beginning With are normally strike out all to and including levers 135 in column 8, line 1; column 8, line 4, before individual insert by; V

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of August, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

